Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, the Arizona cornerback many of us believe could be traded as soon as tomorrow for Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, just appeared via phone on WIP Radio with Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow. Obviously, he couldn't say much, in case he ISN'T traded, but DRC acknowledged he would like to learn from Asante Samuel.

He has heard the trade rumors. "I just play it by ear, man, but whatever happens, happens," he said. DRC is friends with only one current Eagle, corner-returner Jorrick Calvin, his former Cards teammate.

He wasn't asked if he found the trade speculation surprising, or if he had asked the Cards about possibly being in play, after having been drafted 16th overall by them in 2008.

"Aw, man I'm going to win that," Rodgers-Cromartie said, when asked who would prevail in a footrace between himself and DeSean Jackson.

"That's what they say," DRC said, when asked about perceptions he is not a strong tackler. "But I know if it comes down to it, and I have to make the tackle, for me and him gettin' into it, he's going to come down."

With NFL player reps having concluded an 11 am conference call, reports are all over the map as far as the timeline for the NFL moving forward after the lockout. Reports indicate and everyone now seems to assume the lockout will finally end today.

The latest report from the NFL Network -- which is, after all, run by the league and ought to be getting decent information -- indicates that trades will be possible tomorrow, which presumably means we can all take down our "Free Kevin Kolb" placards and cancel the protest marches.

Apparently, since the Eagles are among the teams with the earliest preseason date, an Aug. 11 opener at home against the Ravens, camp could open at Lehigh on Wednesday. We'll keep ya posted.